Shoe Having Dual-Material Outsole

ABSTRACT

A shoe comprising a sole. The sole includes a forward outsole and a heel outsole. The forward outsole and heel outsole each include respective primary and secondary ground engaging members. Each primary ground engaging member defines a hole therein, and the corresponding secondary ground engaging member is positioned within the hole. In addition, each primary ground engaging member and corresponding secondary ground engaging member are adapted and configured so that respective bottom surfaces of each can simultaneously contact a flat ground surface when the shoe is worn. The sole has a rearward through hole within a heel region and a forward through hole in a toe region and a metatarsal region. A heel cushion extends through the rearward through hole and is positioned at least partially within the heel outsole and at least partially above the heel secondary ground engaging member. A forefoot cushion extends through the forward through hole and is positioned at least partially above the forward secondary ground engaging member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to shoes having soles including outsoles composed of multiple materials.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure is a shoe comprising a sole and an upper coupled to the sole. The sole extends from a heel end to a toe end and from a medial side to a lateral side and has a heel region, a midfoot region, a metatarsal region, a ball region, and a toe region. The heel region extends longitudinally from the heel end to the midfoot region, the midfoot region extends longitudinally from the heel region to the metatarsal region, and the toe region extends longitudinally from the toe end to the metatarsal region. In addition, the sole has a medial side region, a central region, and a lateral side region, the medial side region extending transversely from the medial side to the central region, the lateral side region extending transversely from the lateral side to the central region, and the central region extending transversely from the lateral side region to the medial side region. The sole has a bottom surface and a top surface. The sole also includes a forward outsole and a heel outsole spaced from the forward outsole. In turn, the forward outsole comprises forward primary and secondary ground engaging members, and the heel outsole comprises heel primary and secondary ground engaging members.

The forward outsole is coupled to the sole in at least the toe, ball, and metatarsal regions. The forward primary ground engaging member has a toe portion, a ball portion, and a metatarsal portion, as well as a top surface, a bottom surface, a lateral side, and a medial side. The forward primary ground engaging member extends continuously within the toe portion, the ball portion, and the metatarsal portion. A traction pattern is formed in the bottom surface of the forward primary ground engaging member. The forward primary ground engaging member defines a hole therein, the hole extending upward from its bottom surface toward its top surface. The forward secondary ground engaging member is positioned within the hole and coupled to the forward primary ground engaging member. The forward secondary ground engaging member has a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the forward primary ground engaging member and the bottom surface of the forward secondary ground engaging member being adapted and configured to simultaneously engage a flat ground surface when the shoe is worn. The bottom surface of the forward secondary ground engaging member is encircled by the bottom surface of the forward primary ground engaging member.

The heel outsole is coupled to the sole in at least the heel region. The heel primary ground engaging member has a top surface and a bottom surface, and at least a lateral side, a medial side, and a heel side. The heel primary ground engaging member extends continuously within the heel region and has a traction pattern formed in its bottom surface. The heel primary ground engaging member defines a hole therein, the hole extending upward from its bottom surface toward its top surface. The heel secondary ground engaging member is positioned within the hole in the heel primary ground engaging member and coupled to the heel primary ground engaging member. The heel secondary ground engaging member has a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the heel secondary ground engaging member and the bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member being adapted and configured to simultaneously engage a flat ground surface when the shoe is worn. The bottom surface of the heel secondary ground engaging member is encircled by the bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member.

Further features and advantages of the disclosed subject matter, as well as its operation, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a right shoe according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the right shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a three is a rear elevation view of the right shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a lateral side elevation view of the right shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a medial side elevation view of the right shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the right shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the right shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a lateral cross sectional elevation view of a portion the right shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an oblique lateral cross-sectional elevation view of a portion of the right shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the shoe of FIG. 1 with a shoe upper cut away to reveal sole features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of a shoe in accordance with the present invention is illustrated as a shoe 10 depicted in FIGS. 1-9. Shoe 10 comprises a sole 12 coupled to an upper 14. Sole 12 extends from a heel end 16 to a toe end 18 and from a medial side 20 to a lateral side 22, the sole 12 having a heel region 24, a midfoot region 26, a metatarsal region 28, a ball region 29, and a toe region 30. Heel region 30 extends longitudinally from heel end 16 to midfoot region 26, midfoot region 26 extending longitudinally from heel region 30 to metatarsal region 28. Toe region 30 extends longitudinally from toe end 18 to metatarsal region 28. Sole 12 also has a medial side region 32, a central region 34, and a lateral side region 36, where medial side region 32 extends transversely from medial side 20 to central region 34, lateral side region 36 extends transversely from lateral side 22 to central region 34, and central region 34 extends transversely from lateral side region 36 to medial side region 32. In addition, sole 12 has a bottom side 38 and a top side 40. Bottom side 38 of sole 12 is partially defined by a forward outsole 42 and a heel outsole 44. Top side 40 of sole 12 is defined by a footbed member 45, a heel cushion 47, and a forefoot cushion 49.

Forward outsole 42 is coupled to sole 12 in at least metatarsal region 28, ball region 29, and toe region 30. Heel outsole 44 is coupled to sole 12 in at least heel region 24. Forward outsole 42 comprises a forward primary ground engaging member 46 and a forward secondary ground engaging member 48.

Forward primary ground engaging member 46 has a toe portion 50, a ball portion 52, a metatarsal portion 54, a top surface 55, a bottom surface 58, a lateral side 60, a medial side 62, and a toe side 63. Lateral, medial and toe sides 60, 62, and 63 of forward primary ground engaging member 46 respectively define lateral, medial, and toe sides of forward outsole 42, which may be referred to using the same numerals. Forward primary ground engaging member 46 extends continuously within toe portion 50, ball portion 52, and metatarsal portion 54. Bottom surface 58 of forward primary ground engaging member 46 has a traction pattern 64 formed therein, and forward primary ground engaging member 46 defines a hole 66, hole 66 extending upward from bottom surface 58 toward top surface 55 of forward primary ground engaging member 46. Hole 66 is partly defined by a transversely extending sinusoidal edge 67 of forward primary ground engaging member 46.

Forward secondary ground engaging member 48 is positioned within hole 66 and is preferably coupled to forward primary ground engaging member 46. Forward secondary ground engaging member 48 has a toeward edge 69 and a heelward edge 73, a top surface 68 and a bottom surface 70, bottom surface 70 being encircled by bottom surface 58 of forward primary ground engaging member 46. For example, forward secondary ground engaging member 48 may positioned only within toe portion 50, and spaced inward from lateral, medial, and toe sides 60, 62, and 63, of forward primary ground engaging member 46.

Together, respective bottom surfaces 58 and 70 of forward primary ground engaging member 46 and forward secondary ground engaging member 48 define a bottom side 75 of forward outsole 42. Bottom surfaces 58 and 70 are adapted and configured to simultaneously engage a flat ground surface when shoe 10 is worn. Preferably, bottom surface 70 of forward secondary ground engaging member 48 also has a traction pattern 71. Traction patterns 64 and 71 may be the same pattern, such as longitudinal and transverse-perpendicular arrays of parallel, alternating phase, sinusoidal waveform grooves, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, heelward edge 73 of forward secondary ground engaging member 48 is illustrated as a sinusoidal waveform corresponding to that of traction pattern 71, which is complementary and in phase with sinusoidal edge 67

Heel outsole 44 is spaced from forward outsole 42 and coupled to sole 12 in at least heel region 24. Heel outsole 44 comprises a heel primary ground engaging member 72 and a heel secondary ground engaging member 74.

Heel primary ground engaging member 72 extends continuously within heel region 24 and has a top surface 76, a bottom surface 78, a lateral side 80, a medial side 82, and a heel side 83. Lateral, medial, and heel sides 80, 82, and 83 of heel primary ground engaging member 72 define respective lateral, medial, and heel sides of heel outsole 44, which may be referred to by the same numerals. Bottom surface 78 of heel primary ground engaging member 72 has a traction pattern 84 formed thereon. A hole 86 defined in heel primary ground engaging member 72 extends upward from bottom surface 78 toward top surface 76. Hole 86 is partly defined by a transversely extending sinusoidal edge 87 of heel primary ground engaging member 72.

Heel secondary ground engaging member 74 is positioned within hole 86, and is preferably coupled to the heel primary ground engaging member 72. Heel secondary ground engaging member 74 has a toeward edge 89, a heelward edge 91, a top surface 88 and a bottom surface 90, bottom surface 90 being encircled by bottom surface 78 of heel primary ground engaging member 72. For example, heel secondary ground engaging member 74 may be positioned only within a heelward half, and spaced inward from lateral, medial, and heel sides 80, 82, and 83 of heel primary ground engaging member 72.

Together, respective bottom surfaces 78 and 90 of heel primary ground engaging member 72 and heel secondary ground engaging member 74 define a bottom side 93 of heel outsole 44. Bottom surfaces 78 and 90 are adapted and configured to simultaneously engage a flat ground surface when shoe 10 is worn. Preferably, bottom surface 90 of heel secondary ground engaging member 74 also has a traction pattern 92 formed thereon. Traction patterns 84 and 92 may be the same pattern of longitudinal and transverse-perpendicular arrays of parallel, alternating phase, sinusoidal waveform grooves as that of traction patterns 64 and 71, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, toeward edge 89 of heel secondary ground engaging member 74 is illustrated as a sinusoidal waveform corresponding to that of traction pattern 92, which is complementary and in phase with sinusoidal edge 87 of heel primary ground engaging member 72. A sipe 94 is formed on bottom side 93 of heel outsole 44. Sipe 94 has a middle sinusoidal segment 96, defined by respective sinusoidal edges 87 and 89 of heel primary and secondary ground engaging members 72 and 74; and terminal transverse perpendicular straight segments 98 and 100, formed in bottom surface 78 and extending to respective lateral and medial sides 80, 82 of heel primary ground engaging member 72.

In the illustrated embodiment, traction patterns 64, 71, 84, and 92 are substantially uniform across the respective bottom surfaces of ground engaging members 46, 48, 72, and 74.

Shoe 10 further includes a heel cushion 47 seated in a rearward hole 104 formed in sole 12. Rearward hole 104 is positioned within heel region 24 and extends downwardly from a top side 40 of sole 12 through a vertical thickness of footbed member 45 and into heel outsole 44. A portion of rearward hole 104 overlaps and meets a portion of hole 86 formed in heel primary ground engaging member 72, so that rearward hole 104 and hole 86 combine to extend through a vertical thickness of sole 12 over a portion of heel region 24. Heel cushion 47 extends into heel outsole 44, so as to be positioned at least partially within heel outsole 44, overlapping a portion of heel secondary ground engaging member 74 and a portion of heel primary ground engaging member 72. Another portion of heel secondary ground engaging member 74 is overlapped by a portion of heel primary ground engaging member 72. This staggered arrangement of components within heel outsole 44 ensures that at least a portion of a downward heel force distributed over heel cushion 47 bears normally against an opposing portion of heel primary ground engaging member 72, while at least a portion of an upward ground force distributed over heel secondary ground engaging member 74 bears normally against an opposing portion of heel primary ground engaging member 72. As a result, some of the loading and stresses resulting from heel and ground forces are diverted from regions where heel secondary ground engaging member 74 is joined only peripherally to heel primary ground engaging member 72.

Similarly, shoe 10 includes a forefoot cushion 49 seated in a forward hole 108 formed in sole 12. Forward hole 108 is in toe region 30, ball region 29, and metatarsal region 28 and extends downwardly from a top side 40 of sole 12 through a vertical thickness of footbed member 45 and into forward outsole 42. A portion of forward hole 108 overlaps and meets a portion of hole 66 formed in forward primary ground engaging member 46, so that forward hole 108 and hole 66 combine to extend through a vertical thickness of sole 12 over a portion of a forefoot region lying within the union of metatarsal region 28, ball region 29, and toe region 30. Forefoot cushion 49 extends into forward outsole 42, so as to be positioned at least partially within forward outsole 42, overlapping a portion of forward secondary ground engaging member 48 and a portion of forward primary ground engaging member 46. This staggered arrangement of components within forward outsole 42 ensures that at least a portion of a downward forefoot force distributed over forefoot cushion 49 bears normally against an opposing portion of forward primary ground engaging member 46, while at least a portion of an upward ground force distributed over forward secondary ground engaging member 48 bears normally against an opposing portion of forward primary ground engaging member 46. As a result, some of the loading and stresses resulting from forefoot and ground forces are diverted from regions where forward secondary ground engaging member 48 is joined only peripherally to forward primary ground engaging member 46.

Forward and heel primary ground engaging members 46, 72 are preferably composed of a durable, lightweight material, which may comprise ethylene-vinyl acetate. Forward and heel secondary ground engaging members 48, 74 are preferably composed of a high traction material, which may be a rubber.

As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

It should also be understood that when introducing elements of the present invention in the claims or in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be open-ended and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, the term “portion” should be construed as meaning some or all of the item or element that it qualifies. Moreover, use of identifiers such as first, second, and third should not be construed in a manner imposing any relative position or time sequence between limitations. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe comprising: an upper; and a sole coupled to the upper, the sole extending from a heel end to a toe end and from a medial side to a lateral side, the sole having a heel region, a midfoot region, a metatarsal region, a ball region, and a toe region, the heel region extending longitudinally from the heel end to the midfoot region, the midfoot region extending longitudinally from the heel region to the metatarsal region, the toe region extending longitudinally from the toe end to the metatarsal region, the sole having a medial side region, a central region, and a lateral side region, the medial side region extending transversely from the medial side to the central region, the lateral side region extending transversely from the lateral side to the central region, the central region extending transversely from the lateral side region to the medial side region, the sole having a bottom side and a top side; the bottom side of the sole being partially defined by a forward outsole and a heel outsole, the forward outsole being spaced from the heel outsole, the forward outsole being coupled to the sole in at least the toe region, ball region, and metatarsal region, the forward outsole comprising a forward primary ground engaging member and a forward secondary ground engaging member, the forward primary ground engaging member having a toe portion, a ball portion, and a metatarsal portion, the forward primary ground engaging member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the forward primary ground engaging member having a lateral side and a medial side, the forward primary ground engaging member extending continuously within the toe portion, the ball portion, and the metatarsal portion, the bottom surface of the forward primary ground engaging member having a traction pattern formed therein, the forward primary ground engaging member defining a hole, the hole extending upward from the bottom surface of the forward primary ground engaging member toward the top surface of the forward primary ground engaging member, the forward secondary ground engaging member being positioned within the hole in the forward primary ground engaging member, the forward secondary ground engaging member being coupled to the forward primary ground engaging member, the forward secondary ground engaging member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the forward primary ground engaging member and the bottom surface of the forward secondary ground engaging member being adapted and configured to simultaneously engage a flat ground surface when the shoe is worn, the heel outsole being coupled to the sole in at least the heel region, the heel outsole comprising a heel primary ground engaging member and a heel secondary ground engaging member, the heel primary ground engaging member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the heel primary ground engaging member having at least a lateral side, a medial side, and a heel side, the heel primary ground engaging member extending continuously within the heel region, the bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member having a traction pattern formed therein, the heel primary ground engaging member defining a hole therein, the hole extending upward from the bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member toward the top surface of the heel primary ground engaging member, the heel secondary ground engaging member being positioned within the hole in the heel primary ground engaging member, the heel secondary ground engaging member being coupled to the heel primary ground engaging member, the heel secondary ground engaging member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the heel secondary ground engaging member and the bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member being adapted and configured to simultaneously engage a flat ground surface when the shoe is worn.
 2. A shoe in accordance with claim 1, the forward secondary ground engaging member being only within the toe portion of the forward primary ground engaging member.
 3. A shoe in accordance with claim 1, the heel secondary ground engaging member being only within a heelward half of the heel primary ground engaging member.
 4. A shoe in accordance with claim 1, the forward secondary ground engaging member being spaced inward from the lateral and medial sides of the forward primary ground engaging member.
 5. A shoe in accordance with claim 1, the heel secondary ground engaging member being spaced inward from the lateral and medial sides of the heel primary ground engaging member.
 6. A shoe in accordance with claim 1, the forward primary ground engaging member having a toe side, the forward secondary ground engaging member being spaced inward from the toe side of the forward primary ground engaging member.
 7. A shoe in accordance with claim 1, the heel primary ground engaging member having a heel side, the heel secondary ground engaging member being spaced inward from the heel side of heel primary ground engaging member.
 8. A shoe in accordance with claim 1, the forward secondary ground engaging member having a traction pattern formed in the bottom surface of the forward secondary ground engaging member, the traction pattern of the forward primary ground engaging member and the traction pattern of the forward secondary ground engaging member being the same traction pattern.
 9. A shoe in accordance with claim 1, the heel secondary ground engaging member having a traction pattern formed in the bottom surface of the heel secondary ground engaging member, the traction pattern of the heel primary ground engaging member and the traction pattern of heel secondary ground engaging member being the same traction pattern.
 10. A shoe in accordance with claim 9, the traction pattern being uniform across the forward and heel primary ground engaging members and the forward and heel secondary ground engaging members.
 11. A shoe in accordance with claim 1, the forward primary ground engaging member including an edge at least partly defining the hole in which the forward secondary ground engaging member is positioned, the edge being sinusoidal.
 12. A shoe in accordance with claim 11, the forward secondary ground engaging member having a toeward edge and a heelward edge, the heelward edge being sinusoidal and in phase with the sinusoidal edge of the forward primary ground engaging member.
 13. A shoe in accordance with claim 1, the heel outsole comprising a sipe extending from the lateral side of the heel outsole to the medial side of the heel outsole, the sipe being at least partially sinusoidal and at bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member, the sipe being at least partially defined by the heel primary ground engaging member and at least partially defined by the heel secondary ground engaging member.
 14. A shoe in accordance with claim 13, wherein a portion of the sipe is substantially straight and transverse and formed an a bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member.
 15. A shoe in accordance with claim 13, wherein an edge of the heel primary ground engaging member is sinusoidal and wherein a corresponding edge of the heel secondary ground engaging member is sinusoidal and in phase with the edge of the heel primary ground engaging member, the edge of the heel primary ground engaging member and the edge of the heel secondary ground engaging member being spaced from one another to at least partially define the sipe.
 16. A shoe in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a heel cushion, the sole having a rearward hole extending downwardly from a top opening in the top side of the sole, the rearward hole being within the heel region, the heel cushion seated in the hole and being at least partially within the heel outsole.
 17. A shoe in accordance with claim 16, wherein a portion of the heel cushion overlaps a portion of the heel secondary ground engaging member.
 18. A shoe in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a forefoot cushion, the sole having a forward hole extending downwardly from a top opening in the top side of the sole, the forward hole being in the toe region and the metatarsal region, the forefoot cushion seated in the forward hole.
 19. A shoe in accordance with claim 18, wherein a portion of the forefoot cushion overlaps a portion of the forward secondary ground engaging member.
 20. A shoe in accordance with claim 19, the forward and heel primary ground engaging members comprising ethylene-vinyl acetate, and the forward and heel secondary ground engaging members comprising rubber.
 21. A shoe comprising: an upper; and a sole coupled to the upper, the sole extending from a heel end to a toe end and from a medial side to a lateral side, the sole having a heel region, a midfoot region, a metatarsal region, a ball region, and a toe region, the heel region extending longitudinally from the heel end to the midfoot region, the midfoot region extending longitudinally from the heel region to the metatarsal region, the toe region extending longitudinally from the toe end to the metatarsal region, the sole having a medial side region, a central region, and a lateral side region, the medial side region extending transversely from the medial side to the central region, the lateral side region extending transversely from the lateral side to the central region, the central region extending transversely from the lateral side region to the medial side region, the sole having a bottom side; the bottom side of the sole being partially defined by a forward outsole and a heel outsole; the forward outsole being coupled to the sole in at least the toe region, ball region, and metatarsal region, the forward outsole comprising a forward primary ground engaging member and a forward secondary ground engaging member, the forward primary ground engaging member having a toe portion, a ball portion, and a metatarsal portion, the forward primary ground engaging member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the forward primary ground engaging member having a lateral side, a medial side, a toe side, and a heel side, the forward primary ground engaging member extending continuously within the toe portion, the ball portion, and the metatarsal portion, the bottom surface of the forward primary ground engaging member having a traction pattern formed therein, the forward secondary ground engaging member being coupled to the forward primary ground engaging member, the forward secondary ground engaging member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the forward primary ground engaging member encircling the bottom surface of the forward secondary ground engaging member, the bottom surface of the forward primary ground engaging member and the bottom surface of the forward secondary ground engaging member being adapted and configured to simultaneously engage a flat ground surface when the shoe is worn; the heel outsole being spaced from the forward outsole, the heel outsole being coupled to the sole in at least the heel region, the heel outsole comprising a heel primary ground engaging member and a heel secondary ground engaging member, the heel primary ground engaging member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the heel primary ground engaging member having a lateral side and a medial side, the heel primary ground engaging member extending continuously within the heel region, the bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member having a traction pattern formed therein, the heel secondary ground engaging member being coupled to the heel primary ground engaging member, the heel secondary ground engaging member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member encircling the bottom surface of the heel secondary ground engaging member, and the bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member and the bottom surface of the heel secondary ground engaging member being adapted and configured to simultaneously engage a flat ground surface when the shoe is worn. 